StoneRoad2013's photos with the keyword: Didcot Railway Centre

3755 was restored during the 1980s with the assistance of the Manpower Services Commission, to its as built condition and carrying the post-WW1 Crimson Lake livery. In 2019 the vehicle was repainted into the chocolate and cream livery known as ‘pseudo panelling’ where the steel sides are lined out to match the wooden panelling of earlier carriages. didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/article.php/148/no-3755-churchward-non-corridor-brake-third One of three attempts to capture the details of the GWR Crest.

3755 was restored during the 1980s with the assistance of the Manpower Services Commission, to its as built condition and carrying the post-WW1 Crimson Lake livery. In 2019 the vehicle was repainted into the chocolate and cream livery known as ‘pseudo panelling’ where the steel sides are lined out to match the wooden panelling of earlier carriages. didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/article.php/148/no-3755-churchward-non-corridor-brake-third One of three attempts to capture the details of the GWR Crest. This was probably the clearest.

The GWR monogram used between 1870 and 1912. This is on the restored GWR carraige No. 1941 - built new in 1901 [It had centreless bogies and gas lighting [hence the clerestory], 8 compartments for 10 passengers each and was 46ft in length] didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/article.php/142/no-1941-dean-third

3755 was restored during the 1980s with the assistance of the Manpower Services Commission, to its as built condition and carrying the post-WW1 Crimson Lake livery. In 2019 the vehicle was repainted into the chocolate and cream livery known as ‘pseudo panelling’ where the steel sides are lined out to match the wooden panelling of earlier carriages. didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/article.php/148/no-3755-churchward-non-corridor-brake-third One of three attempts to capture the details of the GWR Crest.

During a quick business visit, I managed to snap up another shot of Shannon, which was repainted a couple of years ago (2018). Perhaps I have a slight bias, but I think I prefer Geo England locomotives in red ...

As the visit was on a non-operating day, No93 was tucked away in her shed. . This vehicle was originally constructed as Steam Railmotor No. 93. Built 1908 to Diagram R Lot 1142. It was converted into an Auto Trailer (Diagram A.26, Lot No. 1542) in 1935. In 2011 a major Heritage Lottery funded project to return it to a working steam railmotor was completed when it ran successfully for the first time in 75 years. More info here --- www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/zrailmotor93

Standard gauge George England locomotive "Shannon" from the Wantage Tramway - built 1857. (she has been repainted into a maroon livery for 2018)

Information panel for Standard gauge George England locomotive "Shannon"

Class 14 "Teddy Bear" and 6023 "King Edward II"

Combined water tank and coaling stage. (apologies for the focus, camera hates cold weather)

Didcot Railway Centre has a small length of Broad Gauge track and an original train shed. (Transfer Shed)

The final development of Churchward's Star class and Collett's Castles, the Kings were the most powerful locomotives on the Great Western Railway, and for several years the most powerful passenger engines in the country. 6023 “King Edward II” emerged from Swindon Works in June 1930 and spent all its life until the last year or so allocated to Newton Abbot and Laira (Plymouth). Withdrawn from Cardiff in June 1962, it was returned to Swindon for breaking up. Coupled to its twin 6024 “King Edward I”, from which it had rarely been separated throughout its working life, it was given one last unusual job - to be towed dead over a bridge for weight testing purposes. This miraculously resulted in both engines being dumped in Woodham Bros. yard in Barry instead of being hauled back to Swindon and scrapped. There they remained, coupled together, until 6024 was saved in 1974, leaving 6023, whose wheels had been cut through after a derailment. As their contribution to celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of the GWR's formation in 1985, Messrs Harveys of Bristol bought the hulk and moved it to Temple Meads station. Subsequently they released it to the Society, who brought it to Didcot in 1990. The locomotive has been completely rebuilt by the Great Western Society in a major engineering project which has taken over 20 years to complete. The restored locomotive moved under its own power for the first time on 20 January 2011, and entered traffic with an official launch ceremony at Didcot on April 2.

Prototype Gas Turbine locomotive, 18000, has the nickname "Kerosene Castle" - built for the Great Western Railway in 1949. more info www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/locos/18000/18000.html

In the Didcot Railway Centre café, the GWR Roll of Honour for WW1 has pride of place. Please excuse the lamps ...